Clos du Val Wine Company Stags Leap District Hirondelle Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2017, Napa Valley, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a gorgeous one from Napa.

Very dark ruby in color with a pretty reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of black currants, figs, vanilla, cedar, sweet strawberries, cooked cherries, licorice, eucalyptus, bell pepper, earth, mint, tobacco leaf, spices, vegetables, celery, pencil lead and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, dried cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light vegetables, graphite, vegetables and peppercorn

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Franc from Napa Valley. Showing a gorgeous nose with great complexity.

Already very tasty, although still young. A little hot right now, but that will go away with proper aging.

Would be nice to revisit it in 6 years, and will age nicely in the next 20 years. Showing great potential to become a 97+ point wine, and already delicious by itself.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, show the tannins, and the beautiful nose, so be patient.

This Single Vineyard is so interesting and unique. Nicely balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Soft, yet powerful. Rich and extracted. Elegant, tangy and fruity.

A blend of 91% Cabernet Franc and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 20 month in (90% new) French Oak barrels. A very small production of only 18 barrels.

14.7% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$120.

Silverado Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, California

Dark inky in color with a short purplish rim.

On the nose black currants, plums, cherries, earth, light oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, dust and black pepper.

Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, oak, spices, vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, light alcohol, espresso, chocolates, earth and light herbs.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature, but drinking nicely now. Already showing some complexity, especially on the palate.

I’ve had an older vintage of this wine a few years ago, and it has great potential to get a lot better. Would be great to revisit this in 10 years.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so give it time.

90 points Wine Enthusiasts.

Good to by itself or with food, and will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon,
14% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Aged in mostly French oak barrels (48% new) for 18 months.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$46.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards Napa Valley Syrah 2001, California

To celebrate 6,500 reviews on Vivino, I chose this nicely aged Syrah.

Dark ruby in color with a brick rim.

Beautiful nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, metals, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, vinaigrette and pencil lead.

Full bodied, elegant and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, cherries, blueberries, wood, cloves, vanilla, spices, espresso, dark chocolates, peppercorn, pencil lead and earth.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is wonderful Syrah from Napa Valley. Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel.

This 20 year old needs 45 minutes to open up properly, and remove the barnyard smell.

I’ve had this vintage a few years ago, and this is my last bottle. I’m glad it was such an enjoyable wine.

This is gorgeous and delicious. Rich, yet subdued. Elegant and smooth.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a BBQ burger.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

Hawk and Horse Vineyards Red Hills Petit Verdot 2017 Lake County, California

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish, cloudy rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, black currants, sweet strawberries, cooked cherries, oak, chocolates, licorice, light earth, spices, black pepper, pencil lead and herbs.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, oak, chocolates, tobacco, spices, coffee, vanilla, licorice, graphite and peppercorn.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Petit Verdot from Lake County in California. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Elegant and fruit forward. Rich, spicy and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle and better after an hour of airtime. I gave it 90 minutes, but it might have needed even longer.

Good by itself or with food. Paired very well with the prosciutto.

100% Petit Verdot grapes, grown at 2,200 feet elevation, and aged in French Oak barrels (40% new). A small production of only 90 cases.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65.

Kukeri Wines Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley, California

Inky in color with a short reddish rim.

On the nose blackberries, blueberries, cooked cherries, licorice, cedar, light vanilla, earth, light bell pepper, spices, celery, tobacco, dark chocolates, coffee, vegetables, light alcohol, peppercorn and pencil lead.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, chocolates, tobacco leaf, licorice, graphite, peppercorn, vanilla, cola and light vegetables.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon from Mount Veeder in Napa Valley. Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel. Showing nice complexity on the nose and palate.

Still very young, but already enjoyable even by itself. Showing a little bit of alcohol, which would phase out with bottle time.

Good by itself or with food. Rich, opulent, fruit forward and ripe.

Needs time to open up, it took 2 hours to bring out the tannins and the complexity. As it opens up earth and vegetable notes show up and make it more interesting. Delicious once it opens up.

A good quality wine with good potential to become 95+ point wine. Will age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

I paired it with cheeses, but will pair very nicely with a big piece of steak.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in French Oak barrels (40% new) for 26 months. A very tiny production of only five barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$105.

The Vice Wines Howell Mountain The Coyote Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Napa Valley, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one from Napa Valley.

Deep ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, black plums, raisins, cooked cherries, vanilla, licorice, cedar, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, earth, light vegetables, herbs, graphite and peppercorn.

Full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blueberries, black currants, cherries, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco leaf, coke, light vegetables, bitter herbs and light earth.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and spices.

This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Elegant and fruit forward.

This Single Vineyard is still young, but already approachable. A nice wine with good potential. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 3 hours of airtime.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses, olives and crackers.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were grown at 2,000 feet of elevation. Aged in French oak barrels for 22 months. Unfiltered and unfined.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$70.

Perchance Beckstoffer Vineyard George III Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Napa Valley, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a gorgeous one from Napa Valley.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of blackberries, black currants, cooked strawberries, figs, raisins, vanilla, licorice, cedar, Mediterranean spices, earth, black pepper, light herbs and a touch of green vegetables.

Full bodied, soft and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked cherries, black currants, plums, cedar, earth, alcohol, light vegetables, licorice, spices, tobacco, vanilla and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins, spices and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Nicely balanced and fruit forward, with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

This Single Vineyard from the Beckstoffer Vineyard George III, is good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime.

Still very very young, but already drinking very nicely, even right out of the bottle. Much better after 3 hours of airtime, when the tannins and the complexity come in.

This wine changes every hour, and it is so much fun to see how it evolves in the decanter. Lots of earth notes come out after 3 hours of airtime.

Needs 5 to 7 years to mature properly, and will age nicely in the next 20 years.

Spicy, rich and opulent. Powerful yet elegant. Has great potential to become a 96+ point wine.

I paired it with dried meats and cheeses.

Aged for 23 months in French oak barrels (85% new).

14.9% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$215.

Alexander Valley Vineyards Merlot 2018 Alexander Valley, California

It’s time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday!

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, cedar, black plums, cherries, vanilla, licorice, herbs, vegetables, earth, tobacco, dark chocolates and spices.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, currants, plums, vegetables, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice everyday wine from Alexander Valley. Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. Tangy and spicy.

Needs an hour to open up properly.

Drinking nicely, although still young. Need a couple of years in the bottle to mature properly.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses. A good wine to pair with pizza or pasta.

100% Merlot grapes were aged in (25% new) French and American oak barrels for 14 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$23.

Theopolis Vineyards Petite Sirah 2018, Mendocino County, California

Deep purple in color and very dense, with a short purplish rim.

Pretty nose of blueberries, blackberries, violets, light oak, Indian spices, licorice, eucalyptus, tobacco, dark coffee and black pepper.

Full-bodied with medium plus acidity and long fat legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, blueberries, sweet raspberries, fig jam, plums, oak, vegetables, bitter herbs, earth, tobacco, chocolates, cola, herbs and spices.

Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Petite Sirah from Mendocino County in California. Still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime (2 hours).

Fruit forward and nicely balanced, with a great nose. Already showing nice complexity. Still shows a touch of alcohol, which will dissipate with time.

A nice sipping wine that will age nicely in the next 10 years. Interesting, rich and tangy.

I had it all by itself.

100% Petite Sirah grapes were aged in (30% New) French oak barrels for 20 months. Unfined and unfiltered.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40.

Anarchist Wine Company Rage Against the Machine 2018, California

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose with blueberries, black plums, blackcurrants, oak, licorice, earth, light vegetables, spices, tobacco and chocolates.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with plums, blueberries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, bitter herbs, light vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice and easy drinking red wine from the North Coast in California. Fruit forward with mild complexity.

Still young and needs a couple of years in the bottle to mature.

Good by itself and better with food.

A good everyday wine that paired nicely with meats and cheeses.

A very interesting blend of Syrah, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest is Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Gewürztraminer, Viognier and Zinfandel. A small production of less than 200 cases.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$42.